The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-06
Mr.. Lamar and the Supreme Court.


EDITOR CLARION: In a recent issue
you say that all the signs point to Mr..
Lamar as the coming man to fill the
vacancy now existing on the Bench of /
the United States Supreme Court, and
in saying this, you only state that which |
is the general opinion. Most of the
newspapers have said as much, and in
making mention of it, many of them
have taken occasion to express gratifca-
ton at the contemplated appointment,
and to commend Mr. Lamar's fitness in
the highest terms. In view of all this,
it may seem hardly pardonable to say
that, in the opinion of not few of his
best friends, the appointment would not
be the best that could be made under
the circumstances, or conducive to the
fullness of Mr.. Lamar's fame.
do not wish to be understood as de-
tracing at all from the high esteem in
which that distinguished gentleman is
Justly held. 1t was the writer's fortune
to support and vote for Mr.. Lamar
when he was first elected to the Senate,
and to urge his reelection to that high
position; and il would still be my pleas
ure TO aid in comforting upon him like
and even greater honOrs. Few men
have stood as high in the respect and
| admiration of Mississippiaas, and per
| haps none have deserved better of our
people.
1t is, however, unquestionably true
that i1r. Lamar's path in life has run
along the line of politics and statesman
ship rather than that of jurisprudence
and to say that this renders him more a
statesman and less a jurist, is to state {
self-evident proposition. That he Ia:
given attention to constitutional Law
goes without saying. He could not
otherwise have been what he is. But
unless | am misinformed, vastly more i
required in a Justice of the Fedora
Supreme Court than knowledge of con
stitutional law, though that, of course
! is of prime Importance. Constitutions
questions are of frequent occurrence
but far more frequent are those case
requiring a comprehensive and thorough
knowledge of law and equity as grea
2 systems; the power of applying princi
9 pies to facts, which comes from stud
and experience combined; and tha
clearness of analysis, strength of state
l ment, and legal exactness which only
e lawyer of long training and wide pra(
Y tice can have. Without these an
9 Judge of that court would be at grea
disadvantage, and both in usefulness an
/ reputation as jurist would fall short {
e that high standard which the Sout
J, ought to prescribe for the man we pr,
q sent for appointment. Mr.. Lamar woul
2 no doubt freely admit that in the r
u spects indicated his past career woul
l. be hindrance to him upon the bencl
IF he was younger he might hope
overcome the disadvantage, but at sixt
years the adaptability of our habits an
II methods of thought has generally disal
peared.
There is another thing that may pro
Ie erly be mentioned. The same measu
of honor which the people of Missi
sippi accord to Mr.. Lamar as a state
s man, they accord to Hon. J. Il. Geor.
S. as jurist. His life has been spent
n the law. Broad-minded and strong,
has been trained by a long and vie
4 practice, and by experience upon tt
a. bench of our own Supreme Court; an
g in the Senate of the United States
II has demonstrated his right to stand
the front rank of constitutional lay
10 yers. With great unanimlty the bi
y, and people of the State have presentt
lie his name for appointment to the vacal
! cy soon to be filled by President Clev
- land. For this position Senator GeOrs
- is their first and only choice, and NJ
to even in favor of one whom they hon,
lie as they do Mr.. Lamar, will they wit
"a draw the support they have already tel
: dered in such unmistakable terms?
view of these facts, and of all the hol
II ors they have conferred upon him, wi
Mr.. Lamar be willing to seek, or eve
q allow his name to be used for the a
r. pointment when the effect of so DOH
may result in thwarting the expresst
n wishes of Mississippians in this matte
ID | can hardly think he will so requite h
S people. SIGMA.